Sunflower Husk Research Articles

Effect of Various Meliorants on Respiration Intensity and Organic Carbon Content in the Soils of the Rostov Zoo

Organic substances (sawdust, straw, leaf litter, needles, peat, sunflower husk, charcoal), synthetic moisture regulator (Aquaterra hydrogel), mineral adsorbents and diluents (glauconite sand, diatomite, vermiculite) were used as reclamation agents to optimize the ecological state of the soils of the enclosures of the Rostov-on-Don Zoo, agroperlite, zeolite), biological products (Tamir, potassium humate, Baikal EM), as well as a combination of potassium humate and sawdust). The best results were obtained when applying sawdust in doses of 5 and 10% of the soil weight. At the same time, biological processes in the soil intensified, which increased its ability to self-purify from animal metabolic products. The introduced sawdust mineralized with a strong increase in carbon dioxide emissions. The content of organic carbon in the soil at the same time by the end of the experiment (after 6 months) practically did not change.

Fabrication of biochar derived from different types of feedstocks as an efficient adsorbent for soil heavy metal removal

For effective soil remediation, it is vital to apply environmentally friendly and cost-effective technologies following the notion of green sustainable development. In the context of recycling waste and preserving nutrients in the soil, biochar production and utilization have become widespread. There is an urgent need to develop high-efficiency biochar-based sorbents for pollution removal from soil. This research examined the efficacy of soil remediation using biochar made from three distinct sources: wood, and agricultural residues (sunflower and rice husks). The generated biochars were characterized by SEM/SCEM, XRF, XRD, FTIR, BET Specific Surface Area, and elemental compositions. The presence of hydroxyl and phenolic functional groups and esters in wood, sunflower and rice husk biochar were noted. The total volume of pores was in the following descending order: rice husk > wood > sunflower husk. However, wood biochar had more thermally stable, heterogeneous, irregular-shaped pores than other samples. Adsorption of soil-heavy metals into biochars differed depending on the type of adsorbent, according to data derived from distribution coefficients, sorption degree, Freundlich, and Langmuir adsorption models. The input of biochars to Calcaric Fluvic Arenosol increased its adsorption ability under contamination by Cu(II), Zn(II), and Pb(II) in the following order: wood > rice husk > sunflower husk. The addition of sunflower husk, wood, and rice husk biochar to the soil led to an increase in the removal efficiency of metals in all cases (more than 77%). The increase in the percentage adsorption of Cu and Pb was 9–19%, of Zn was 11–21%. The present results indicated that all biochars functioned well as an absorbent for removing heavy metals from soils. The tailor-made surface chemistry properties and the high sorption efficiency of the biochar from sunflower and rice husks could potentially be used for soil remediation.

Biomass Origin Waste as Activators of the Polyurethane Foaming Process

Rigid polyurethane foams (RPUFs) are characterized by their excellent viable properties; thus, these materials can be successfully used as thermal insulation materials. The main problem, the solution of which is partly indicated in this paper, is that the products for the synthesis of RPUFs are produced from petrochemicals. Due to this, the use of natural fillers in the form of waste biomass is introduced for the synthesis of RPUFs. The biodegradable biomass waste used in the RPUF production process plays multiple roles: it becomes an activator of the RPUF foaming process, improves selected properties of RPUF materials and reduces the production costs of insulating materials. The paper presents the results of the foaming process with the use of six different fillers: sunflower husk (SH), rice husk (RH), buckwheat husk (BH), sunflower husk ash (SHA), rice husk ash (RHA) and buckwheat husk ash (BHA). In all cases, composites of rigid polyurethane foam with 10 wt.% of filler were produced. New foams were compared with polyurethane materials without the addition of a modifier. Moreover, the paper presents the results of the fillers’ analysis used in the tests and the effects of the fillers’ addition as activators of the RPUF foaming process. Promising results were obtained for two of the fillers, BHA and SHA, as activators of the foaming process and confirmed by the volumetric results, where the named samples reached their maximum value in half the time compared to the remaining samples. In addition, the expansion rate for PU_10BHA was a maximum of approximately 11 cm3/s and PU_10SHA was a maximum of approximately 9 cm3/s, whereas the remaining samples showed this parameter at about 3 cm3/s. During the research, the scanning electron microscopy method and infrared camera technique were used.

BIOENERGY PRODUCTION FROM SUNFLOWER HUSK IN UKRAINE: POTENTIAL AND NECESSARY INVESTMENTS

Sunflower is a strategic crop in the agriculture of Ukraine as it is important for food and energy production. Recently the processing of secondary products, solving the issues of waste disposal and improving the environment have been paid much attention. This is an example of a cyclic economy, as during the production of oil from sunflowers, their husk can be used for energy production. The ash obtained by burning husk is a valuable complex mineral fertilizer and can be further applied as ecological fertilizer. The aim of this article is to assess the energy and investment potential for sunflowers as an internal reserve for increasing production efficiency and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. In particular, the equivalents of energy substitution of sunflower husks for energy costs at fat-and-oil enterprises, the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions are estimated. A generalized scheme for the production of electricity from sunflower husks is considered. In particular, the use of ash from sunflower husks as a fertilizer is described. The research has shown that the sunflower husks available in Ukraine can be used more efficiently to produce electricity. Therefore policy recommendations were developed based on a study conducted.

Effect of cavitated husks on the metabolome of fermentation end products, microbiome and physicochemical parameters of the rumen (i<i>n vitro</i>)

Relevance. Today, a significant place in the feeding of farm animals is given to such inexpensive waste from the oil extraction industry as sunflower husk. In this regard, one of the promising and modern methods for optimizing feed production can be the use of liquid media activated in various ways, in combination with ultrasonic treatment. Materials and methods. The object of research was crushed sunflower husk (1.0 mm) (sample 1), as well as husk sonicated (cavitated) in hydromodules with water (in the ratio “husk: water” 1 : 3 (sample 2)), and with lactic acid (“husk: lactic acid” 1 : 3 (sample 3)). The obtained samples were used in in vitro studies with rumen fluid in the “Daisy D200I” incubator (“Ankom Technology”, USA). The following indicators of the exchange of nitrogenous metabolites in the cicatricial contents were determined – residual and total nitrogen by the Kjeldahl method according to the method of K. K. Akhazhanova (2016); ammonia nitrogen – by microdiffusion method according to Conway. The taxonomic composition of the scar fluid was determined by NGS-sequencing using the “MiSeq device” (“Illumina”, USA). Research results. Data analysis showed that the use of cavitated sunflower husk increases the digestibility of dry matter by 19.0 % (Р ≤ 0.01), and cavitated together with lactic acid husk – by 20.7 % (Р ≤ 0.01) in comparison with crushed husk. When incubating cavitated sunflower husk and cavitated together with lactic acid sunflower husk, there were a decrease in the number of archaea, in particular the class Methanobacteria, by 23.73 % and 20.36 % (Р ≤ 0.05) and an increase in the number of bacteria of the phyla Bacteroidetes by 10.2 % and 11.27 %, Firmicutes – by 4.66 % and 6.86 % relative to the use of crushed husk.

Production of adsorbents based on sunflower husks for removal of chromium (VI) from wastewater

At present, industrial and agricultural waste is often used as sorption materials for water remediation. Adsorbents obtained from sunflower husks were used for wastewater treatment from chromium (VI) ions. Studies were carried out using unmodified and modified sunflower husk and a model wastewater solution containing 10 mg/dm3 of chromium (VI) ions. Solutions of acids (H2SO4, HNO3, HCl, H3PO4) and alkalis (KOH, NaOH) were used to modify sunflower husks. The maximum sorption capacity was revealed in sunflower husks treated with sulfuric acid; thus, this modifying agent only was used in further experiments. The modification was carried out using 1–4 M solutions of H2SO4 at 30–75 °C for 30–120 min. The research results showed that the acid treatment of sunflower husks is more effective than that using alkalis. The sorption capacity of the modified sunflower husk increased up to the concentration of sulfuric acid of 3 M, followed by a further decrease. A full factorial design having 3 factors of the experiment was set, which allowed the maximum sorption capacity to be identified. The optimal modification procedure was as follows: sunflower husks are treated using 2.5 M sulfuric acid solution at 60 °C for 30 min, washed with distilled water and dried at 105 °C to a constant weight. Studies showed that adsorbents obtained from sunflower husks can be used to remove chromium (VI) ions from wastewater.

Sunflower husk processing technology for fodder production

The article considers the possibilities of environmental protection from agricultural waste - sunflower husks. A technology for processing this waste from the oil extraction industry into a feed product using ultrasonic treatment (cavitation) is proposed. The chemical changes of this product after processing, including nutritional value, were studied. The indicators of the use of this product under the conditions of incubation of an analogue of the rumen of ruminants were studied. Positive changes in the chemical composition of the processed product and its more active fermentation in the ruminal fluid of ruminants were revealed.

ANALYSIS OF DIRECTIONS TO INCREASE THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF OFFICE BUILDINGS IN UKRAINE TO THE NZEB LEVEL

The article is an analysis of the feasibility of replacing the energy source with heating an office building in Kyiv to the level of a building using energy produced by renewable sources (biomass). The authors assessed the potential of biomass in Ukraine, the logistics routes to ensure uninterrupted supply and the cost of renewable resources. Estimation of necessary investments of transition from energy source to heating, running on natural gas, to energy source, running on biomass (sunflower husk), is given by changing the integral cost of heating costs for three options for thermal protection of the building: non-insulated (existing) building; building, the level of thermal protection of which meets the requirements of Ukraine; a building whose thermal protection level satisfies the requirements of Sweden. In particular, the authors determined that the integral cost of heating when using a boiler on pellets from sunflower husks without improving the thermal insulation of the enclosing structures of the building is significantly lower than when using natural gas as an energy carrier for the production of thermal energy, and the initial cost of an insulated building meets the requirements of Ukraine and the requirements of Sweden when using a natural gas boiler is significantly higher than an uninsulated building with a biomass boiler. The results obtained indicate that there are prospects for scaling buildings with almost zero energy consumption in Ukraine, given the development potential of biomass and the significantly lower unit cost of biomass energy compared to natural gas.

ПОЛУЧЕНИЕ ЦЕЛЛЮЛОЗНОГО ВОЛОКНА ИЗ ЛУЗГИ ПОДСОЛНЕЧНИКА

The article discusses the results of research on obtaining cellulose fiber from sunflower husks. A complete technological scheme of plant raw materials processing is presented. The studies have proved the possibility of obtaining cellulose fiber from sunflower husk. The average weighted length of the fiber was 0.495 mm, width 30.8 microns. It has been revealed that 59,1 % of the total weight of the obtained fiber can be attributed to the conditioned fiber having bougoyage-forming properties

Sunflower Husks Coated with Copper Oxide Nanoparticles for Reactive Blue 49 and Reactive Red 195 Removals: Adsorption Mechanisms, Thermodynamic, Kinetic, and Isotherm Studies

Sunflower Husks Coated with Copper Oxide Nanoparticles for Reactive Blue 49 and Reactive Red 195 Removals: Adsorption Mechanisms, Thermodynamic, Kinetic, and Isotherm Studies

Optimization of methylene blue and povidone-iodine adsorption conditions on activated biochar from sunflower husk pyrolysis

Optimization of methylene blue and povidone-iodine adsorption conditions on activated biochar from sunflower husk pyrolysis

Formation of Biochar Nanocomposite Materials Based on CoFe2O4 for Purification of Aqueous Solutions from Chromium Compounds (VI)

The paper proposes a simple one-stage synthesis of organic-inorganic composite materials based on oxide compounds of iron (III) and cobalt (II) with a developed surface. The process of cobalt(II) ferrite (CoFe2O4) structure formation on the biochar surface was studied. As an organic component, biochar was obtained from agricultural waste, including sunflower husks, rice husks, and pea kernels. Composite materials cobalt ferrite/biochar were obtained for the first time using these wastes. The obtained materials were characterized using X-ray phase analysis, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy, and N2 adsorption-desorption. A mechanism for forming composite materials is proposed, including the stage of formation of chelate complexes of transition element cations with citric acid on the biochar surface and their subsequent thermal decomposition. High adsorption activity of the synthesized materials in the process of removing chromium (VI) ions from aqueous solutions was established. The sunflower husk biochar composite material based on CoFe2O4 has the highest adsorption capacity of 6.98 mg/g. The results suggest that biochar composites based on CoFe2O4 have great potential for the practical industrial wastewater treatment.

Influence of Technical Parameters of the Pyrolysis Process on the Surface Area, Porosity, and Hydrophobicity of Biochar from Sunflower Husk Pellet

Biochar is a product that has been of interest to many researchers in recent years. The use and positive effect of biochar depend on its properties, which in turn result primarily from the type of substrate used for production and the technical parameters of the pyrolysis process used. From the point of view of sustainable development, agricultural raw materials, such as sunflower husks, are good materials for biochar synthesis. The research aimed to determine the effect of changing the technical parameters of the pyrolysis process (i.e., temperature, heating rate, and residence time) on the properties of biochar obtained from sunflower husk pellets. The pellets were heated to 480 °C, 530 °C, and 580 °C. The applied heating rate for 480 °C was 4.00 and 7.38 °C·min−1, for 530 °C it was 4.42 and 8.15 °C·min−1 and for 580 °C it was 4.83 and 8.92 °C·min−1. Determining these properties is important due to the use of biochar, e.g., in the processes of sorption of pollutants from the water and soil environment. The technical parameters of the pyrolysis process used allowed us to obtain hydrophilic materials with porosity in the range of 10.11% to 15.43% and a specific surface area of 0.93 m2·g−1 to 2.91 m2·g−1. The hydrophilic nature of biochar makes it possible to use them in the processes of removing inorganic pollutants and polar organic pollutants. The presence of macropores in biochar may contribute to the improvement of water management in the soil and affect the assimilation of microelements by plants. The low content of heavy metals in biochar does not pose a threat to the environment.

Fate of phosphorus in pulverized fuel co-combustion of sewage sludge and agricultural residues

The fate of phosphorus concerning its distribution in the thermal process and chemical speciation was studied during the co-combustion of sewage sludge with wheat straw and sunflower husks in powder combustion conditions. Co-combustion experiments were performed in a lab-scale entrained flow reactor (EFR) at 1000 °C and 1400 °C. SEM-EDS and ICP-OES analyses were used for studies of deposits collected on a probe, bottom ash, and particulate matter samples collected during experiments. Deposition probe samples were further studied and interpreted using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermochemical equilibrium calculations (TECs). The inorganic material in the different fuel particles mainly interacted through a molten phase observed on deposition probes. Crystalline P was mainly identified in β-Ca3(PO4)2 whitlockites. TECs support the experimental findings and suggest that a mostly homogenous melt occurs at 1400 °C, whereas Fe-oxides and Ca-phosphates precipitate during the cooling of the formed deposits. It was found that <5 % of incoming P was collected in fine particulate matter (<1 µm), indicating that the majority of P can be found in deposits and bottom ash. This outcome implies that P recovery efforts should be focused on these ash fractions.

The Effect of Mixing Recirculated Flue Gas with Primary or Secondary Air during Biomass Combustion in Grate-Firing Boiler as the Primary Measure for NOx Reduction

Due to the pollutant regulations of the Directive (EU) 2015/2193, the need to reduce the emissions of pollutant compounds such as NOx is of a great importance for industrial boilers. This study was performed to determine the effect of primary measures in reducing said pollutants by mixing primary or secondary air with FGR and supplying the mixture for combustion. The studies were conducted on low-scale industrial biomass grate-firing furnace and boiler stand of 25 kW. Sunflower husk pellets, shredded pine bark and wood pellets were combusted during these experiments and emissions of NOx in their combustion products were analyzed. The most significant reduction of emissions was achieved by mixing primary air and FGR and supplying it to the primary combustion zone – under the grate. The emissions of NOx were reduced by 29% and 15% for shredded pine bark and sunflower husk pellets respectively. The emissions of shredded pine bark were reduced enough to meet the standards of the EU Directive, unlike those of sunflower husk pellets. The possible ways to reach greater reduction of NOx by using primary measures are implementing staged combustion, supplying pure FGR and/or mixing agriculture waste with fuels containing less N in its composition.

Simulation of Air Gasification Process of Sunflower Husk Pellets to Produce Purified Syngas

The results of numerical studies of the utilization of sunflower husk pellets obtained by simulating the air gasification process in downdraft gasifier and subsequent purification of the produced syngas from CO2 are presented. Numerical studies were conducted with varying the air-fuel ratio from 0.25 to 0.5 to define the optimum value of this coefficient to obtain gas of a given quality. It was determined that with increasing oxidizer consumption the calorific value of syngas decreases from 3179 to 1971 kJ/m3, due to the increasing concentration of nitrogen and carbon dioxide, and the gasification efficiency increases from 38 to 59 %. The optimal value of the oxidizer excess coefficient for the air gasification of sunflower husk pellets is 0.35.

Influence of post-pyrolysis treatment on physicochemical properties and acid medium stability of magnetic carbon nanocomposites

AbstractThis study presents the preparation of magnetic carbon nanocomposites (MCNCs) through a two-step procedure: (i) in situ co-precipitation of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles into four different carbonaceous matrixes and (ii) post-pyrolysis treatment to coat the magnetic core. Four post-pyrolysis MCNCs were obtained: MACP (post-pyrolyzed magnetic activated carbon), MCCP (post-pyrolyzed magnetic charcoal), MHCPOR(post-pyrolyzed magnetic hydrochar from orange residue), and MBCPSFH(post-pyrolyzed magnetic biochar from sunflower husk). These four samples were compared with the starting MCNCs prepared without post-pyrolysis treatment: MAC, MCC, MHCOR, and MBCSFH, respectively. After post-pyrolysis treatment, a thin carbon layer surrounding some of the magnetite nanoparticles was identified by transmission electron microscopy. Post-pyrolysis modified the porous structure and chemical composition of MCNCs. Furthermore, a leaching test with acid sulfuric solution at 90 °C was carried out. The results suggested that the MHCPORand MBCPSFHwere more stable in an acidic medium than MACP and MCCP, indicating that the coat generated during post-pyrolysis of hydrochar and biochar could partially protect the magnetic core by reducing Fe leaching into the aqueous solution. Biochar and the hydrochar-based MCNCs before and after post-pyrolysis treatment exhibit superparamagnetic properties; however, their saturation magnetization (Ms) decreased considerably. These results open the potential application fields of MCNCs obtained by post-pyrolysis of biochar and hydrochar-based materials in acidic mediums.

Technoeconomic Feasibility of a Sunflower Husk Fast Pyrolysis Value Chain for the Production of Advanced Biofuels.

Biofuels are required to reach the target set out by the European Commission's Transport mandate in the RED II (Renewable Energy Directive) for 2020-2030. To avoid indirect land use change, waste biomass resources such as sunflower husks can be used for advanced biofuel production. A process simulation and technoeconomic assessment of three fast pyrolysis plant scenarios were conducted. The nature of the waste feedstock has an effect on the value chain configuration, fast pyrolysis, and upgrading process design. Considering the difficulties with the transport and storage of biogenic waste due to low bulk density or hazardous and pathogenic content in case of transporting untreated sunflower husks, it is recommended to use a hub-and-spoke type of decentralized value chain configuration. The fast pyrolysis plants are located close to the feedstock, and the fast pyrolysis bio-oil (FPBO) is transported to a single upgrading facility, colocated at an existing refinery. The upgraded FPBO is then cofed into an FCC (fluidized catalyst cracker), where partially green biofuels such as gasoline and diesel are produced. For the fast pyrolysis process design, Scenario 2, treating 10 t/h of dry biomass with electricity and steam as coproducts, has the most favorable economic results with a total capital investment (TCI) of 78 million Euro and operating expenses (OPEX) of 6 million Euro.

Prediction of the Behavior of Sunflower Husk Ash after Its Processing by Various Torrefaction Methods

Biomass can be considered an alternative to coal in the production of heat and electricity. Many types of biomass are waste from agriculture and the food industry. This waste is cheap, readily available, and replenished annually. However, most agricultural and food industry wastes (sugar cane pulp, olive and sunflower oil production wastes, straw, etc.) have ash with a low melting point. This leads to a rapid growth of ash deposits on the heating surfaces of boilers; as a result, the actual efficiency of boilers in which waste from agriculture and the food industry is burned is 45–50%. Known biomass pre-treatment technologies that allow for the fuel characteristics of biowaste. For example, leaching of biowaste in water at a temperature of 80–240 °C makes it possible to drastically reduce the content of alkali metal compounds in the ash, the presence of which reduces the melting point of the ash. However, this biomass pre-treatment technology is complex and requires additional costs for drying the treated biomass. We proposed to use torrefaction for pre-treatment of biomass, which makes it possible to increase the heat of combustion of biomass, increase the hydrophobicity of biomass, and reduce the cost of grinding it. However, we are not aware of studies that have studied the effect of torrefaction on the chemical composition of ash from the point of view of solving the problem of preventing the formation of agglomerates and reducing the growth rate of ash deposits on the convective heating surfaces of boilers. In this paper, the characteristics of sunflower husk subjected to torrefaction in an environment of superheated steam at a temperature of 300 °C and in an environment of gaseous products at a temperature of 250 °C are studied. All experiments were conducted using fluidized bed technology. The resulting biochar has a calorific value of 14.8–23% higher than the initial husk. To assess the behavior of sunflower husk ash, predictive coefficients were calculated. Torrefaction of sunflower husks does not exclude the possibility of slagging of the furnace but reduces the likelihood of slagging by 2.31–7.27 times. According to calculations, the torrefaction of sunflower husks reduces the likelihood of ash deposits on the convective heating surfaces of the boiler by 2.1–12.2 times. According to its fuel characteristics, the husk, after torrefaction in an environment of superheated steam, approaches wood waste, i.e., can be burned separately without additives or mixtures with other fuels with refractory ash.

Identification of chlorogenic acid in cotyledonous leaves and husks of common sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The relevance of the study is conditioned by the need to optimise the production process of the sunflower farming ecosystem by increasing environmental sustainability. Among the by-products of processing, the use of which is still not effective, the release of the powerful antioxidant chlorogenic acid has not been sufficiently studied. In this regard, this paper is aimed at revealing the patterns of accumulation and identification of phenolic compounds in cotyledons and sunflower husks. The purpose of the study is to identify phenolic compounds in cotyledonous leaves and husks of various genotypes of common sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) by thin-layer chromatography. In the course of research on this problem, the authors used field, biochemical, and statistical research methods. To identify chlorogenic acid, a solvent system was used: chloroform – glacial acetic acid – methanol – water (60:32:12:8). Chromatography analysis was performed in the SORBFLIL TLC software suite. The object of research is the Auris common sunflower hybrid. It is established that the qualitative composition of the phenolic complex and the number of individual compounds has a pronounced variety specificity. On the chromatogram, this substance has an Rf of ~ 0.60 (for sunflower husks) and an Rf of ~0.74 (for cotyledonous leaves). It was found that the most effective solvent for chlorogenic acid is aqueous ethanol. Extraction of chlorogenic acid with 40% ethanol provides up to 10 mg/g of chlorogenic acid. In addition to chlorogenic acid, a small amount of caffeic acid was found in the alcohol extract. The materials of the study are of practical value for improving the processes related to the development of the productivity of sunflower crops and the rational use of processing by-products